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Youssef Abdullah Al-Sharaa, a player from the Libyan Unified Karate team, achieved a notable international accomplishment by winning the bronze medal in the 14th World Unified Karate Championship, held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Al-Sharaa’s victory came after he secured third place in the individual Kumite competition for the 16–17 age group, under 65 kg weight category, adding a new world medal to Libya’s sports record and placing Libya’s name on the podium in one of the sport’s most prominent international tournaments.
The championship is taking place from July 22 to 26, 2026, at the BT Arena in Cluj-Napoca, with the participation of over 2,100 male and female athletes representing 47 countries and about 76 sports federations. The competitions are being held on 12 mats simultaneously.
The championship features various competitions including Kata, Kumite, and Kobudo, along with the participation of different age groups, ranging from children and juniors to seniors and veterans, as well as special competitions for athletes with disabilities.
The Libyan Unified Karate Federation confirmed that Youssef Al-Sharaa’s achievement came after strong matches against an elite group of players from around the world in his category. It pointed out that this victory reflects the development in the level of Libyan players as a result of preparation efforts and continuous support for sports talents.
The Federation also noted the participation of Libyan international referee Asaad Al-Yaqoubi in officiating and judging the individual and team Kata competitions within the championship’s activities.
The Libyan Unified Karate Federation extended its congratulations to player Youssef Al-Sharaa and to the karate community in Libya, wishing for further successes and achievements in upcoming international competitions.